The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-11-30
HOME MEEpLEWoRK.
simple Muslin Garments and Hand-Sew-
Ing Again Coming Into Fashion.

The needle has been solace and
relief 10 woman from the earliest time
Who can imagine useful, womanly
woman who does not love her needleP
1t is wonderful how many perplexities
may be set at rest, how many petty
annoyances float away like the morn
ing mist while the housekeeper stitches
quietly at hem and band II is wise
thing to avoid quick word or sharp
reproof till the matter has been scanned
over thoughfully while the thinker is
employed at her afternoon needle
work. 1t is no mere fancy that in the
employment Of the hands their mere
mechanical position may tend to an
irritating or calming frame of mind.
The wise physician looks to the hand
for the most infallible sign of brain
disorder-tbe turning of the thumb.
The restless motion of the hand
of the insane is familiar to every
one. That the motion of the hand in
sewing produces q calm. reflective
frame of mind is rs certain as that the
sewing machine produces a jaded,
nervous womanhood, wearing out
mind and body in the ceaseless whirr
of its iron wheel. 1t would seem like
gross exaggeration to say the sewing
machine had been as great curse as
a blessing to women. but when the
matter is calmly Investigated this state
ment fa lis little short of the truth.
As soon rs the sewing machine came
into existence people were no longer
content with the pretty plain clothes
they were wearing. but demanded that
every thing should be tucked and
puffcd till all simplicity and beauty Of
form was gone. Even sin-ible women
rushed into excess and tried to do
every thing ''by machinery" Moth
ing was gained in many cases except
more sewing. Wise scamstresses soon
learned that every thing could not be
done by machine. No careful house,
keeper now allows q machine hem
on her table, linen, bed linen or
underclothing. There is no hand
stitch so good for the seams of under
garments or dresses as that made by
machine Machine tucking is stronger
than hand tucking. but the expert
hand sewer must finish off the work Of
the machine if the work is to be dainty
and neat While rightly used the sew
ing machine is an inestimable bless
ing, but its abuse has brought about a
train of almost unparalleled evils.
The sewing machine is responsible for
much of the suffering of poor seam
stresses who are competed to put two
hundred tucks or putting and tucking
yard deep on single garment made
of cheap cotton, for variety of vul-
gar persons. including smart ladies'
maids or cooks, who are anxious that
their mistresses shall see how much
they can outdo them, and who sneer at
the simple lace-edged or embroidered
clothing included in their mistresses'
laundry. rs though they were in keep
ing with the miserly management
which had ordered the remnants OF
roast beef, "only enough for the cat, !"
to be made into croquettes. The sew
ing machine is responsible for the over
dressed servants and the insolence and
Incidence that follows with her. Such
state of things has made it necessary
for ladies to insist that girls in their
service wear what has been sneeringly
called uniform "a plain calico
dress. plain white apron and cap
that viii do away with an untidy or
over-elaborate coiffure.
Ii arefned country girl could follow
the purchasers of overturned clothing
to their homes they would never at
tempt to make elaborate UNDER
clothes. but would avoid garments
with two hundred tucks as they would
the insignia of ballet-dancer.
We speak of country girls because no
woman of refinement in the large cities
would buy the stacks of elaborate
fnery sold at starvation rates in the
city shops. A great many women
everywhere are returning TO the good
old-fashioncd practice of "home-
made" under clothes. The hens and
folls are hand work. II lace is used as
trimming. it is always put on by
overcast stitch. The finest clothing is
trimmed simply with group of tucks,
which may be half-inch or finer as the
maker fame eies. marrow frill of lace
or embroidery and few lines OF
dainty feaiher-stitchiug done with the
needle. pride of the West muslins,
percalcs and nainsooks are the ma
terials generally used. A great many
ladies this season are making up sets
of underclothes of fine white flannel.
all wool. but of light weight, embroid-
cring the edges of the garments in
simple scallops and dot with china
floss. Knitting undervests of Saxony
yarn is becoming fashionable fancy
work. Ladies of luxurious taste some-
times knit these vests of pure white
silk, avoiding as loud any tint of
color Mems shirts are made by the
best worSmen by machine. except that
the buttonholes and gussets are always
put in by hand. This work is
done so satisfactorily and perfectly
at the shops, and at such low prices.
that the manufactured shirt has
virtually superseded the handmade
shirt, doing away with an infinite deal
Of vexation Of spirit. Infants cloth
ing should bo made by the needle.
The seams are the only part of baby
garments where machine sewing is
allowable. Many mothers take a low
ing pride in doing all this work with
their own hands. 1t is a subject for
eongratulation that simple UNDER
clothes aud hand-sewing are coming
into fashion. Afternoons devoted to
needlcwork are a positive rest if tho
worker Is not jaded, as a physical
abor Is often rest TO brain worker
There win be more charity of thought
md deed, more peaceful homes. moro
happy healthy, ''old fashioned"
L. u.